8 | MEAT & WOOL » Fernhill - Colin Phillips Limousins deliver yield, profit and performance Fernhill Limousin, established in 1991 when Colin first brought Limousin cattle from a sale at Lorneville, Anne Boswell Tuatapere sheep and beef farmer Colin Phillips reckons dairy farmers are missing a trick if they’re not using Limousin cattle over their dairy cows. “I can`t believe more dairy farmers aren`t getting on the bandwagon” he says. “Limousin cattle have low birth weight, good growth rates and superior carcass characteristics, including a higher yield and dressing percentage and an exceptional eye muscle area. Fernhill Limousin, established in 1991 when Colin first brought Limousin cattle from a sale at Lorneville, comprises 100 Limousin cattle as part of a larger, 4300-stock unit operation over 538ha that includes a Coopworth/Romney commercial flock. Colin and son Jordan also run a busy earthmoving contracting business, specialising in dairy lanes and farm maintenance. Colin, who is President of the Limousin Beef Breeders Society of NZ, sells rising two-year-old Limousin bulls privately each spring, predominantly to dairy farmers; one dairy farmer has returned to Fernhill for almost 30 years for his Limousin genetics. While low birthweight and ease of calving make Limousin particularly attractive for use over dairy cows, what really stands out is the Limousin’s carcase performance. Colin points to a recent comparison on farm where his son hand-reared Friesian-cross cattle to two years of age, reaching 620kg liveweight, while Fernhill’s Limousins weighed in at 590kg. Despite the lighter liveweight, the Limousin cattle came back at 334kg on the hook, compared with the Friesian cross at 297kg. At $6.70/kg, the Limousins returned $246 more per head, purely through superior yield. “Limousin can be up to 10% better in yield than other breeds,” Colin says. This trait has also been formally recognised in the show ring. Colin has been a previous winner and place getter of the Otago-Southland Beef Carcass Competition. “Limousin are always right up there in the placings,” Colin says. “And ninety percent of the time, they win it.” Simon de Vries - 027 840 9867 Julie Heaps - 03 226 6212 Performance & quality you can trust multi Award winning Since 1924 The #1 nationally benchmarked commercial ock for performance and quality in pure Romneys for NZ and Australia in 2024/25. Proud to supply Fernhill. While the Limousin breed once carried a reputation for poor temperament, Colin says significant progress has been made. “There’s been a huge amount of work done on docility, and the change is remarkable,” he says. “New Zealand Limousin are now used as an example of how temperament can be corrected through breeding.” Because Colin is flat-out running the farm and the contracting business, he has a tried-and-true – if a little unconventional – method of buying his own new Limousin genetics. “I jump on a plane and fly to sales, and buy the best Limousin bull in New Zealand, regardless of the price,” he says. “I’ve done that for years. We don’t use any AI.” This year also marks an important milestone for the breed, with the Limousin Beef Breeders Society of NZ and the Australian Limousin Breeders Society Ltd coming together to facilitate a New Zealand tour in May, which will include a conference and respective AGMs. “The week will include visits to three Limousin studs, offering a valuable opportunity to showcase the breed, share knowledge and strengthen our trans-Tasman ties,” Colin says. FERNHILL LIMOUSIN 2 Dickens Rd, Tuatapere 9691 | e: c.jphillips@xtra.co.nz 03 226 6143 | 027 434 5128 HIGH-PERFORMANCE BEEF GENETICS • PRACTICAL, COMMERCIAL CATTLE PHILLIPS CONTRACTING LTD 2 Dickens Road, Tuatapere | phillips.jt@hotmail.com | Jordan 027 331 9629 | Colin 027 434 5128 Locally owned & operated · 20 T diggers (ditching, root raking, dairy lane & farm maintenance, all earthworks) · Roller · Grader · Tip trucks · D6 Dozer For all your excavation needs
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